AN03b

Unit03: Era of Growth & Disunion

Ch.10

FS: Compromise holds the nation together once again- barely.

I. North & South Develop Differences
A. North
1. Industrialized Quickly ("The Business of America is Business")
2. Adopted Technology, Employed Innovations
a. Telegraph
b. Vulcanization of Rubber (Goodyear)
c. Sewing Machine (Singer)
3. Expanded Railroads
4. Population, via Immigration, grows.
a. Irish
b. Generally anti-slave in views.
B. South
1. Rural.
2. Agricultural: Cash Crop (Cotton) dependent.
3. Slow to adopt technology/ innovations.
4. 5 Southern States, out of the 11 that will form the Confederacy in 1861, had a
slave population of 50% or more.
II. New Territories - New Disputes
A. Wilmot Proviso: Prohibits Slave Institution in the New Territories => Debate on
Federal Representation Reopened
1. New territories gained via the Mexican Cession opened the debate about
slavery in new territories. This issue harks back to the Northwest Ordinance
under the Articles of Confederation.
2. Constitutional Issues: Is property, which is protected in the Constitution,
transportable by its very nature? (See the Dred Scott case for another view).
B. California Statehood
1. Gold Rush => Rapid population growth allows the former Spanish colony to
bypass the Territorial phase of the process to join the Union.
2. Californias constitution forbade slavery, but most of the future state fell south
of the latitude line established by the 1820 Missouri Compromise (36.30).
3. 1849: Zachary Taylor, President of the US.
a. Favors a Free California.
b. To appease Southern States, offers Popular Sovereignty as an option
regarding the Slave question in the new territories.
C. Everyone Contributes to the Squabble => Southern States Threaten Secession.
1. Southern States want California as a Slave State.
2. Texas claims a portion of New Mexico Territory, but Northern States Oppose.
3. Northern States want Slavery abolished in Washington, DC.
4. Southern States want 1793 Fugitive Slave Act enforced thoroughly by
Northern States.
III. Henry Clay comes to the Rescue, Again!
A. Compromise of 1850
1. California is admitted to the Union as a Free State.
2. Popular Sovereignty becomes the method to address issue of Slavery in the
new territories.
3. Federal Government pays Texas for its claim on New Mexico territory: $10
million.

AN03b

Unit03: Era of Growth & Disunion

Ch.10

4. Slave Trade is abolished in Washington, DC. Owning slaves is still permitted.

5. The Fugitive Slave Act is re-enforced as the law of the land (Constitutionally
mandated).
B. Deaths & Changes make compromise possible.
1. Senator John C. Calhoun and Pres. Zachary Taylor die.
2. Millard Fillmore becomes President of the US => Supports Compromise.
3. Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois pushes Compromise through Congress.
He accomplishes this by dividing the legislation into many smaller bills, rather
than one, large, bill that could be easily voted down.
Materials: Awaiting Update